Endless band track



July 25, 1950 P. G. HAGl-:NBUCH r-:TAL 2,516,115

ENDLESS BAND TRACK Filed Aug. 5, 1947 45 Sheets-Sheet 1 gums/Mms] July 25, 1950 P. G. HAGENBUCH ETAL 2,516,115

ENDLEss BAND TRACK Filed Aug. 5, 1947 s sheets-sheet 2 1:51.11 E Hag ambush :Raw-mund'. IErJCFiGKlw-u July 25, 1950 P. G. HAGENBUCH ETAL 2,516,115

ENDLESS BAND TRACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5, 1947 Patented July Z5, 1950 "ENDLESS BAND TRACK Paul G. Ilagenbuch, Arlington, Va., and Raymond I. Strickland, Greenbelt, Md.

Applic'aucnfaugust 5, 19in-serial No. 766,432

is claims. (ci. 'sos- 1m 'rammed' una the aci cf March 1883, as amendes apra. so, 192s; ,am o. c. 757.)

The invention described herein zma'ybe manufactured and used `by or for lthe Government for governmental purposes withoutthe payment of any royalty thereon.

Aimbedded therein lengthwise thereotasthc .re-

inforcing means. Such structures are objectionablein that the flexing and stretching of the cables which occurs in normaluse soon-results' in `the 'failure of one or more cables andlneccssitates replacement ofthe entire track'. LThe same objection is true where trackj shoes ortrack guides are lformed integral With the track.

l With the 4foregoing in view, itis an object ofthe invention to provide an improved track-for a track laying vehicle. I

A further object is to provide lsuch a track which comprises an endless flexible band having molded therein one or more endless c'haiilsv extending longitudinally thereof to reinforce 'the same.

A further object is to provide an endless'iflexible track having one or `more endless chains imbedded therein as aforesaid vto reinforce `the 'track' 4and wherein lubrication means are sealedin the track to lubricate the connections of the individual links of the chain.

A further object is to provide anovel combination of an endless track and detachable track 'y tion of a track shoe and means' 'for detachabli7 l connecting the same to the track vehicle.

' :Other objects and advantages residein the' par vticular structure vof our invention.. combination of a track laying land arrangement ofthe severali'parts :and inthe 'particular methods or `modes of operation, construction or assembly, all of which will `be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing and specification wherein `the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In 'the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, 'bottom `plan view 0f the lower nun of an endless track according .to the invention,

` Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with parts being shown in. longitudinal vertical section substantially on the plane of the line 2--2, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a-transverse, vertical section of the lower `run of track taken substantially on the plane of the line '3-3 of Figure 1, the section "thenv being rotated through 180 to 'position the bottom of the tread downward, v

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, Vertical section taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure l and with non-essential background parts omitted,

' 'Figure 5 'is' a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially on the plane of the line '5-5 of Figure 3, lj

Fig-ure 6 is a like view but taken on the plane of the line B-G of Figure 3,

Figure '7 is a perspective view of one ofthe clamps for attaching the track shoe to the track apart from `the related structure,

Figure 8 is a like view of a related element, A Figure 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one of the bands forming the track with portions broken away, and Y Figure lO-is a perspective View of the track shoe. Referring specically .to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, lll designates generally atrack band for the track of a track laying vehicle. The band Il) comprises a core which iria-y be formed of a multiple', nat link chain which `may be composed of a plurality of ilat,rp1atelike links I l connected together at their ends by any suitable `joint forming means ,as the .hinge pins l2 which Aextend ltransversely .through the ends thereof. .The band Ill .may be rof .any suitable width depend-ing upon the number of links .Il which are arranged side by side. -Any suitable -link- IVI -and joint member |.2 maybe used toy .provide a multijointed core -having inflexible portions `intermediate 'the ioints.

'The spaces between the links .IJI. -in at least the areas. adjacent the Vjoint Ymembers 1.2, Vare packed `anfith ,any1 suitable lubricant i3.. :The lubricant lengthwise thereof.

90 in a horizontal plane to the final position.

and one end Wall is formed by a portion I5 of such material. The side walls of each reservoir are formed by adjacent links II and the other end wall is formed by an overlapping end of an adjacent link I I and by a joint member I2. The function of this structure of the reservoirs will be described later.

As is shown in Figure 2, the' upper and lower surfaces of the band I0 are not plane but comi prises regularly spaced transverse ridges I6 over the joints which merge into valleys I'I inthe inexible portions of the band.

. -The track shoes may be of any suitable form having any suitable grouser 2| on the lower surface and any suitable sprocket guides 22 on the upper surface. O-ne or more channels 23 are 'formedin each shoe 20 to receive one or `more track bands I0. The channels 23 comprise side walls 24 and an intermediate connecting wall portion 25. The intermediate portion 25 (Figs. 2' and 6) is convex in section to provide a ridge ,21 and is complementary to a valley portion I 'I of -one surface of the band I0 between two adjacent ridges I6. The structure not only enables the vshoes 20 to be regularly spaced around the bands I0 with a minimum of delay but also insures the location of each shoe between two adjacent joints `ofthe bands I [l` whereby the full flexibility of the latter is maintained.

The side walls 24 of the channels 23 are formed f with oppositely disposed recesses 28 which may be arcuate in plan (Fig. 1). vThe floors of vsuch lrecesses 28 arel formed with centrally disposed bosses 29, the purpose of which will be described hereafter.. As is best shown in Figure 3, the -recesses 28 are located just below the bands i0 ,when the latter are seated against the intermediate wall portions 25 of the shoe.

A clamp 30 is provided for each channel 23 of each shoe 20 and in the form shown (Figs.-l, 2, 3 and 7) comprises an inverted U-shaped channel .member having flanges 3I and a web 32. The free corners of the anges 3| may be cut away to formnotches 33 and the ends of theweb 32 Qmay be rounded as at 34 to be complementar to the arcuate walls of the recesses 28. y f

. The vweb 32 is formed with an opening 35 therethrough through which extends the working surface of a cam 36 which is pivoted as at 31 between .the anges 3l of the clamp. rI'he cam 36 has an .integral actuating arm or lever 38, whereby the Acammay be partially rotated from the operative position, Figs. 3 and 7, 180 in a counterclockwise vdirection Ato an inoperative position (not shown) and vice versa. The flanges 3I are formed with a plurality of pry slots 39 through which any suitable tool (not shown) is insertable to' initiate "movement of the lever 38 in either an operative or an inoperative direction. "A'pressure plate or band guard 40 is insertable -in each channel 23 between the clamp 30 and the band I0. The plate 40 is of any suitable shape /and is substantially concavo-convex in cross section. The convex surface 42 is formed to be complementary to the valley portion I1 ofthe baud I0. The concave surface of the plate 40 provides an indentation 43 to receive the working surface of the cam 36.

To assemble a shoe 20 on a band ID, the latter is seated in a channel 23 against the wall portion 25. .withthe convex or ridgeportion 21 nesting in a Ycomplementary valley portion I'I of the band. A clamp 3U is now positioned in the channel 23 The clamp is now rotated The notched corners of the flanges 3| are lifted over the bosses 29 of the recesses 28. In this con- .'nectionQFir'g'. 6 clearly shows that the recesses 28 are of sufficient height to permit this movement. The notches 33 provide sufficient flange surface withink the recesses 28 to prevent accidental reverse swinging of the clamp while the vertical portions of thepnotches 33 are positioned closely 'adjacent the side walls 24 below the recesses 28 and prevent accidentaldislodgement of the clamp by endwise movement. The camy 3B is in the inoperative position throughout this operation.

. Ifhe pressure plate 4D is now inserted in the channel 23 lengthwise thereof between the clamp 30 andthe band Ill. The ridge 42 of the plate 40 nests in a .valley I7 of .the band opposite to that seating the vridge 2'! of the wall portion 25 of the channel.` v

Thelever 38 of the cam 36 is now swung manuallyin a clockwise direction as far as possible and hammered ror... otherwise forced the remaining distance to theoperative position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and? whichis-beyond the dead center of the cam..

In- Y such'. .operative position the combined opposed pressure of the ridge portions 2'I and 42 Y of thechannel and plate respectively compresses thesheath kmaterial I4, including the portion I5 thereof whereby to exerta joint lubricating pressure on the lubricant I3 in the particular reservoirs involved.v I n thismanner. all joints of the band II) are pressure-lubricated at all times when ,in use and wearof the. joint posts is thereby re- .du'ced to a minimum.

-While 4we, haveshown kand described what is ynow thought4 to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is suscepti- .ble ofl other forms and expressions. Consequently,.wefdo notlimit `ourselves to the precise struc,- tures,y combinations and sub-combinations shown .andf described'. 'herein except as hereinafter claimed I.

We claim: yH1'. In combination, aI band for an endless fiex- -ible track for a track laying vehicle comprising a chain formed of a plurality of fiat sheet metal links,A eachlink ybeinghingedly connected at each for engagement with said band at one side of one of said inexible portions of said chain, and

-meanspattachable `tosaid shoes and having a clamp. adapted-to :bear against said band at the opposite side of said inflexible portion to maintain -said'shoes'in positionon-said band while simultaneously exerting-alubricating pressure on said lubricant: f

2. In combination, a band for an endless flex- -ible` trackfor a track laying vehicle comprising a 'chain formed ofia plurality of flat sheet metal links; each.link'beinghingedly connected at each end to adjacent links to provide a plurality of flexible joints with interposed inflexible portions, lubricant for said joints, a flexible rubber-like covering surrounding said chain and sealing in said lubricant, a plurality of track shoes for said band, and means for securing said shoes to said band at an inflexible portion thereof and simultaneously maintaining a lubricating pressure on said lubricant.

3. In combination, a flexible endless band for a track for track laying vehicles, at least one endless reinforcing member inclosed in said band lengthwise thereof and comprising a plurality of inflexible members connected together by nexible joints, said band comprising a sheath sealing a lubricant in contact with each joint of said reinforcing member to lubricate said joints.

4. The combination of claim` 3, a plurality of track shoes for said band, securing means for securing said shoes to said band at points intermediate the joints of the inflexible members, said means cooperating with said shoes to exert a lubricating pressure on the lubricant for the adjacent joints of said reinforcing member.

5. A flexible tension member comprising a core formed of a plurality of substantially inflexible members, means connecting said members together in end to end relation to provide flexible joints, a sheath composed of flexible material sealed around said core, and reservoirs of lubricant sealed within said sheath, there being a reservoir of lubricant in lubricating contact with each joint of said core.

6. A flexible tension member comprising a core formed of a plurality of substantially inflexible members, means connecting said members together in end to end relation to provide flexible joints, a sheath composed of iiexible material sealed around said core and a supply of lubricant sealed within said sheath and adapted to lubricate each joint of said core.

'7. The structure of claim 5, said reservoirs being at least partially formed of said iexible material of said sheath.

8. A flexible tension member comprising a core formed of a plurality of substantially inflexible members means connecting said members together in end to end relation to provide flexible joints, a sheath composed of flexible material sealed around said core, and reservoirs of lubricant sealed within said sheath for lubricating each joint of said core, said reservoirs each being compressible to exert lubricating pressure on the lubricant contained therein.

9. In combination, a track shoe for the track band of a track laying vehicle, comprising a ground engaging portion, at least one track band receiving channel in said portion, said channel having a top wall and opposed side walls, a laterally extending recess in each of said side walls below said top wall, and a track band clamp, said clamp comprising rigid portions adapted to be seated in said lateral recesses and a movable clamp member engageable with said band to clamp the same between said member and the top wall of said channel.

10. The structure of claim 9, said recesses being substantially arcuate in plan, and said clamp being removable therefrom upon partial rotation in the plane of said recesses.

11. The structure of claim 9, said clamp member comprising a single throw lever having an integral cam operative to clamp said band.

12. In combination, a track shoe for the track band of a track laying vehicle, said shoe, including a ground engaging portion, said portion being formed to provide at least one track band receiving channel therein, said channel having a closed top wall and opposed side walls, a track band receivable in said channel, said channel including means for detachably mounting a band clamp therein, a band clamp mountable on said means, and a pressure plate insertable in said channel between said clamps and said band.

13. The structure of claim i2, said band having upper and lower surfaces formed to provide substantially regular depressions therein, said top wall of said channel and a surface of said pressure plate being formed to provide ridges cornplementary to the depressions in said band to facilitate proper location of said shoe on said band.

14. The structure of claim 12, and complementary inter-engaging portions formed on said top wall of said channel, said band and said pressure plate.

15. A clamp for clamping a track shoe to the track band of a track laying vehicle, comprising an inverted U-shaped channel member, a clamping cam pivoted between the flanges of said channel, an operating arm integral with said cam, and said flanges of said member being formed to provide lateral pry slots therethrough to permit actuation of said operating arm from the outside of said member.

16. The structure of claim 15, the web of said member being formed to provide an opening therethrough, and the working face of said cam being adapted to extend through said opening to engage said band.

PAUL G. I-IAGENBUCH. RAYMOND I. STRICKLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

